498 WILES OF A SORCERER. 



LIB. vn. together all the people into one place, then commaunded he 

 to bring all the tributes, which hee divided to those that 

 had neede. To the poore he gave stuffes to make apparrell, 

 and meate, and whatsoever they had neede of in great 

 aboundaunce, and things of value, as golde, silver, iewels, 

 and feathers, were divided amongst the captaines, souldiers, 

 and servants of his house, according to every man s merite. 

 This Autzol was likewise a great polititian, hee pulled 

 downe the houses ill built, and built others very sumptuous. 

 It seemed vnto him that the city of Mexico had too litle 

 water, and that the lake was very muddy, and therefore hee 

 resolved to let in a great course of water, which they of 

 Cuyoacan vsed. For this cause he called the chiefe man of 

 the cittie vnto him, being a famous sorcerer; having pro 

 pounded his meaning vnto him, the sorcerer wished him to 

 be well advised what hee did, being a matter of great diffi 

 culty, and that hee vnderstoode, if he drew the river out of 

 her ordinary course, making it passe to Mexico, hee would 

 drowne the citty. The king supposed these excuses were 

 but to frustrate the effect of his designe, being therefore 

 in choler, he dismissed him home ; and a few dayes after 

 hee sent a provost to Cuyoacan, to take this sorcerer : who, 

 having understanding for what intent the king s officers 

 came, he caused them to enter his house, and then he pre 

 sented himself vnto them in the forme of a terrible eagle, 

 wherewith the provost and his companions being terrified, 

 they returned without taking him. Autzol, incensed here 

 with, sent others, to whome hee presented hirnselfe in forme 

 of a furious tygre, so as they durst not touch him. The 

 third came, and they found him in the forme of a horrible 

 serpent, whereat they were much afraide. The king mooved 

 the more with these dooings, sent to tell them of Cuyoacan, 

 that if they brought not the sorcerer bound vnto him, he 

 would raze their citty. For feare whereof, or whether it 

 were of his owne free will, or being forced by the people, 



